Where to Find Cinnabar
16 mapped cinnabar spots across 7 regions. Pick a region for its local guide, or browse every spot below. Cinnabar is reported at multiple rockhounding spots across the United States. The map below shows where collectors most often find it on legal public ground.
Every mapped cinnabar spot
Best spotMarysvillePiute County, UtahPublic access · Cinnabar, Alunite, Albite +11- Best spotNew Almaden Area MinesSanta Clara County, CaliforniaPublic access · Chert, Cinnabar, Apophyllite +1
- Best spotFish Lake ValleyEsmeralda County, NevadaPublic access · Cinnabar, Opalite
Granite MountainIron County, UtahPublic access · Actinolite, Albite, Amethyst +10- BeattyNye County, NevadaPublic access · Cinnabar, Opalite, Copper +5
- MercurTooele County, UtahPublic access · Cinnabar, Gold, Orpiment +5
- TerlinguaBrewster County, TexasPublic access · Calcite, Calomel, Cinnabar +5
Clackamas RiverClackamas County, OregonCheck locally · Petrified Wood, Cinnabar, Agate +1- Clackamas RiverClackamas County, OregonCheck locally · Petrified Wood, Cinnabar, Agate +1
- Ibapah MountainsTooele County, UtahPublic access · Aquamarine, Barite, Beryl +1
- Lake Gleason (South Side)Pike County, ArkansasPublic access · Antimony, Cinnabar
- Mountain HomeOwyhee County, IdahoPublic access · Cinnabar, Gold
- Salmon River (Stanley area)Custer County, IdahoPublic access · Gold, Cinnabar
- BeowaweEureka County, NevadaPublic access · Cinnabar
- Silver Cloud MineElko County, NevadaCheck locally · Cinnabar
- Unnamed Location (Cinnabar)Pike County, ArkansasPublic access · Cinnabar
Top regions for cinnabar
Cinnabar rockhounding FAQ
Where is the best place to find cinnabar?+
Nevada, Utah, Arkansas have the highest concentrations of cinnabar in this list. Quality and access vary by area, so open the linked region pages for a detailed view.
How many cinnabar rockhounding spots does RockHoundR track?+
16 mapped spots across 7 regions. The app keeps these on a map alongside your private finds.
Can I legally collect cinnabar on public land?+
In the U.S., casual hand collecting of common rocks and minerals like cinnabar is allowed on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land, with daily and annual limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are off-limits. Rules differ by country and region, so always check with the managing agency before a trip.
How do I identify cinnabar in the field?+
Field identification of cinnabar comes down to color, hardness, fracture, and luster. The RockHoundR app links to geology details for each spot to help narrow down what you might be picking up.
Hunt cinnabar on the map
Open RockHoundR to see these spots on a real map with public land overlays and trip-planning details.
